6 of Swords is a card of transition. It usually indicates that we have left behind a troubling situation, or something that wasn’t right for us in some way, and we are now moving towards something that’s more in alignment for us. But we haven’t reached that shore just yet; our boats are still at sea, though 6 of Swords does assure us we are oriented in the right direction. However, typically when this card comes up, we do need help in some way. Note that in the RWS version, there are passengers huddled in the front of the boat, their vision obscured by swords, while a ferryman stands and navigates, looking out over the swords. This indicates a need for a different perspective, from someone who isn’t as close to the situation. Think going to therapy, or talking to a friend who can look ahead for you, towards the horizon, and give you reassurance that you’re doing the right thing, even if you seem to be sailing totally unfamiliar waters.

This card can also come up to represent literal travel or change of direction, and sometimes suggests a physical change in location in order to get that shift of perspective that’s required. I sometimes think of the passenger who can’t see past their swords as a person who is stuck behind their screen (for swords being the suit of communication also represent our relationship to computers, technology, and social media). So 6 of Swords can tell us that we need to stand up, get out, and look beyond the screen and into the broader world, where often things don’t look quite as dire as they do when we’re stuck in the scroll.

for more on 6 of Swords see my YouTube video